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ADC 306 

Administrative Change to Rail Transportation Mode/Method Codes and Definitions 

Transportation/Supply (MILSTRIP)) 

1. ORIGINATOR: 

a. Service/Agency: Defense Logistics Management Standards Office (DLMSO)

b. Originator: Heidi Daverede, DLMSO, 703-767-5111, DSN 427-5111, e-mail : 

heidi.daverede@dla.mil.

2. FUNCTIONAL AREA: Primary: Transportation; Secondary: Supply (MILSTRIP)

3. REFERENCE:

a. Table Management Distribution System Transportation Method or Type Code Table 

b. DOD 4000.25-1-M, Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (MILSTRIP), 

Appendixes 3.14, 3.15, 3.19, 3.30 and 3.39 

c. DOD 4000.25-M, Defense Logistics Management System (DLMS), Appendix 4, 

DLSS/DLMS Conversion Guide. 

4. REQUESTED CHANGE: 

a. Description of Changes: This administrative change updates the DoD codes, 

definitions, X12 conversion and MILSTRIP references to authorized data source for 

transportation mode/method codes associated with rail movements. 

b. Background: The Defense Transportation Coordinator Initiative (DTCI) program is 

implementing rail as an authorized transportation method for CONUS movements. During the 

Defense Transportation Electronic Business (DTEB) Committee staffing of Data Maintenance 

Request 782, which proposed to add the X12 rail transportation method codes, inconsistencies 

were identified in the logistics and transportation domain usage for authorized DoD codes, 

definitions, and X12 conversions for rail movements. To harmonize these codes, United States 

Transportation Command made changes to the Table Management Distribution System, the 

Authorized Data Source for transportation method code conversions. These changes were 

approved by the DTEB on October 29, 2008. 
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c. Procedures: 

(1) Revise rail transportation mode/method codes and definitions as follows: 

⇒ DoD Code “K” - Rail, Carload 

 (NOTE: The parenthetical notation “includes trailer on flat car (TOFC)/container 

on flat car (COFC) excluding commercial/government-owned/leased shipping 

container (SEAVAN)” is no longer required due to the new definition for DoD 

Code “L”.) 

⇒ DoD Code “L” - Intermodal (Piggyback) 

 (NOTE: The former definition “Rail, less than Carload (includes trailer on flat 

car (TOFC)/container on flat car (COFC) excluding commercial/governmentowned/leased shipping container (SEAVAN)” was declared obsolete by 

USTRANSCOM several years ago. To support DTCI, USTRANSCOM 

reactivated DoD Code “L” with a new definition “Intermodal (Piggyback)”. This 

new definition precisely matches the X12 DE 91 definition for “X”.) 

⇒ DoD Code “3” - Roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) service 

 (NOTE: The X12 Version 4010 conversion was changed from “X” to “RO”. 

Since the reinstated DoD Code “L” definition matches the X12 DE 91 definition 

for “X”, the X12 conversion for DoD Code “3” was changed to use the migration 

code “RO”, which is approved for use in X12 Version 4030. 

(2) To ensure consistent conversion and application of rail transportation method codes, 

the conversion guide should read as follows:

Name/Definition DOD Code X12 Code 

Rail, Carload K R 

Intermodal (Piggyback) L X 

Roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) service 3 RO (Note: This is a “migration code” from V4030 DE 91) 

(3) Revise MILSTRIP, Appendix 3.14, Material Release Confirmation, as shown: 

Field Legend Record Position(s) Entry and Instructions 

Mode of Shipment 77 Enter code identifying the mode of shipment.1

 (See 

MILSTAMP.) Leave blank in response to a follow-up when 

shipment has not occurred. 

1. Refer to the TDMS for available code list at URL: https://wwwtmds.c2.amc.af.mil/TMDS/DTRdata.xsql?result=&view=V_D_SHPMNT_UNT_ARPT_AIR_SFC&skip=0&max

=10.

 
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(4) Revise MILSTRIP, Appendix 3.15, Force-Closed Material Release Confirmation, as 

shown: 

Field Legend Record Position(s) Entry and Instructions 

Mode of Shipment 77 Enter the code identifying the mode of shipment2 from DoD 

4500.9-R (DTR); otherwise, leave blank. 

2. Refer to the TDMS for available code list at URL: https://wwwtmds.c2.amc.af.mil/TMDS/DTRdata.xsql?result=&view=V_D_SHPMNT_UNT_ARPT_AIR_SFC&skip=0&max

=10.

(5) Revise MILSTRIP, Appendix 3.19, Shipment Status, as shown: 

Field Legend Record Position(s) Entry and Instructions 

Mode of Shipment 77 Enter the code identifying the mode of shipment.3

 (See 

DoD 4500.9-R.) (Leave blank when transmitting DI AS3 

through DAAS to DRMS.) 

3. Refer to the TDMS for available code list at URL: https://wwwtmds.c2.amc.af.mil/TMDS/DTRdata.xsql?result=&view=V_D_SHPMNT_UNT_ARPT_AIR_SFC&skip=0&max

=10.

(6) Revise MILSTRIP, Appendix 3.30, Foreign Military Sales Notice of Availability Key 

Document, as shown: 

Field Legend Record Position(s) Entry and Instructions 

Mode of Shipment 23 Identifies the intended mode to be used from shipping 

activity to designated consignee.4

5. Refer to the TDMS for available code list at URL: https://wwwtmds.c2.amc.af.mil/TMDS/DTRdata.xsql?result=&view=V_D_SHPMNT_UNT_ARPT_AIR_SFC&skip=0&max

=10.

(7) Revise MILSTRIP, Appendix 3.39, Shipment Status (Material Returns Program), as 

shown: 

Field Legend Record Position(s) Entry and Instructions 

Mode of Shipment 77 Enter the code identifying the mode of transportation used to 

move the materiel.5

5. Refer to the TDMS for available code list at URL: https://wwwtmds.c2.amc.af.mil/TMDS/DTRdata.xsql?result=&view=V_D_SHPMNT_UNT_ARPT_AIR_SFC&skip=0&max

=10.

 
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5. REASON FOR CHANGE: 

a. Implement in DLMS and MILSTRIP transactions recently published changes from 

USTRANSCOM regarding rail transportation mode/method codes, definitions and X12 

conversions. 

6. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES: 

a. Advantages: The logistics and transportation domains will have matched DoD codes, 

definitions, and X12 conversions for rail transportation methods. This will ease conversions for 

enterprise systems, such as Asset Visibility (AV) and Global Transportation Network (GTN) 

P3I, which carry records from both the logistics and transportation domains. 

b. Disadvantages: Requires a change to the DAASC map for transportation method code 

conversions.

7. IMPACT: 

a. Components need to update their DLMS and MILSTRIP procedures and transactions to 

use the rail transportation mode/method codes as described in this document. 

b. DAASC will need to update the transportation mode/method code conversion table.